Connolly Completes Comeback, Grabs First AJGA Title at the Woodward Video Junior at The Greenbrier
Martindale earns fourth AJGA win at The Greenbrier Resort - The Meadows Course

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Brendan Connolly of Castle Rock, Colo., claimed his first AJGA victory after carding a final-round 1-under-par 70 to finish the tournament at 2-under-par 211. Kendall Martindale of Jefferson City, Tenn., fired a 3-over-par 74 to finish on top in the Girls Division at 9-over-par 222.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Woodward Video Junior at The Greenbrier was a 54-hole stroke play event held at The Greenbrier — Meadows Course. The 131-player field featured 99 boys and 32 girls, ages 12-18, from 24 states, South Africa and Italy. The par-71 course was played at 6,732 yards in the Boys Division and 5,938 yards in the Girls Division.

Connolly, who trailed Stanhope Johnson Jr., of Greensboro, N.C., by seven strokes after the first round, worked hard on his putting after his first day and went on to play the final 36 holes in 7-under-par.

“I had 37 putts in the first round so I went to the practice putting green for about an hour after my round and left feeling a lot better,” Connolly said. “I went on to shoot my lowest tournament-round of 65 in the second round and then came back with a 70 in the final round. I hit the ball really well all week, but getting the putting turned around the last two days was the key for me.”

Johnson, Jr., finished alone in second at 1-under-par 212. David Snyder of Somerset, Ky., was in third at 1-over-par 214. Chris O'Neill of Glen Allen, Va., finished fourth at 2-over-par 215. In a four-way tie for fifth were Alex Church of Timonium, Md., Joey Shroyer of Victoria, Minn., Grant Daugherty of Alcoa, Tenn., and Cory Sciupider of Etowah, N.C. at 5-over-par 218.

In the Girls Division, Martindale carded four birdies, including three on the back nine, to edge Samantha Marks of Maitland, Fla., by one stroke.

“I didn't really have my best game this week, but I didn't really hit any terrible shots either,” Martindale said. “I hit a lot of fairways and greens and grinded it out and then rolled in a few birdies and it was good enough for the win.”

Marks finished in second at 10-over-par 223. Clare Connolly of Chevy Chase, Md., rounded out the top three in the Girls Division at 14-over-par 227.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about Woodward Video Junior at The Greenbrier, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.